All the Buzz
HCS News and Information -- March 12, 2024
From Your Superintendent
Dear Hornet Nation,
As our weather continues to improve, our students continue to "spring forward" in their learning. While we do our best to gather evidence of learning each day in many different ways, springtime brings testing that is required by the state. This is in addition to our internal NWEA-MAP assessments that we give three times a year, as an instructional tool for teachers.
The windows for testing open on April 8, and each of our schools (Larson, the middle school, the Hive, and the high school) will be sharing an assessment calendar with you. Dependent on the grade and subject, your child may be taking one or more of the following: M-STEP, (grades 3-8, 11), PSAT (grades 8-10), SAT (grade 11), and ACT WorkKeys (grade 11). These assessments measure achievement in learning our state content standards. Those standards, written by educators and approved by the Michigan Department of Education, outline what students should know and be able to do in certain subjects at certain grade levels to ensure they are on track to be college/career ready upon graduation.
We obviously want our students to do their best on these assessments, so good sleep the night before and a good breakfast the day of are important. We walk a fine line between wanting them to do their best and not wanting them to become overly stressed or nervous about taking them. You can count on us to support your child fully through the process, and if you have specific questions, please reach out to your school.
On another, final note, please make sure to scroll down -- there a lot of pictures of students from all five of our campuses (preschool, Larson, middle school, Hive, and high school). See if you recognize anyone!
In partnership and with Hornet Pride,
Judy
989.539.7871
HCS Mission Statement
The staff of Harrison Community Schools, in the spirit of a growing and changing community, pledge to educate all students by teaching the District Curriculum and beyond, ensuring the development of responsible learners prepared to take an active role in a complex society.
Board Members
Zachary Driver -- Kendra Durga -- Therese Haley
James Neff -- Chelsea Roland -- Betsy Ulicki -- Carrie Whitaker
Middle School Memories
Take a look...
Valentine's Dance
Prize Winners from Family Engagement Night
Dissecting Flowers in Science
Strategic Planning Survey: WE NEED TO HEAR YOUR VOICE!
If you have not already filled out the survey, thank you! If not, please do so here: Harrison Community Schools Strategic Planning Survey (surveymonkey.com)
March is Reading Month...and we're going to be reading even more next year!
Reading is so important that we are building it into the grade 6-12 schedule for next year. For 30 minutes each day, readers will have an opportunity to read material of their choice. This is to continue the love of reading, build stronger readers, and increase reading comprehension. There is not a future job that will not require technical or informational reading skills.
In addition, if students are in need of "just-in-time" academic help in a course from their teacher that will be available on two of those days. In this way, students can get the help they need, when they need it. For more details, please see the attached document.
Pictured: Board President Kendra Durga took time to be a guest reader at Larson.
Celebrating Women's History Month
"Women's History Month had its origins as a national celebration in 1981 when Congress passed Pub. L. 97-28 which authorized and requested the President to proclaim the week beginning March 7, 1982 as “Women’s History Week.” Throughout the next five years, Congress continued to pass joint resolutions designating a week in March as “Women’s History Week.” In 1987 after being petitioned by the National Women’s History Project, Congress passed Pub. L. 100-9 which designated the month of March 1987 as “Women’s History Month.” Between 1988 and 1994, Congress passed additional resolutions requesting and authorizing the President to proclaim March of each year as Women’s History Month. Since 1995, presidents have issued a series of annual proclamations designating the month of March as “Women’s History Month.” These proclamations celebrate the contributions women have made to the United States and recognize the specific achievements women have made over the course of American history in a variety of fields."
Pre-School Math & Literacy Open House
Thanks to all who were able to attend for a fun late afternoon of learning!
Texting During the School Day
Our new rules at the middle school are going well, and we have seen a significant increase in the face-to-face interactions in between classes and during lunch.
As another piece of evidence about why we made this change, and contemplate future changes, please check out this article around the potential detriment of texting with your child during the school day.
Larson Learning
It's been a great last couple of weeks at Larson...
Food for Thought project
Mrs. Seefeld is an author!
Leading the Pledge at the BOE Meeting
Making Science Fun
Dress Like a Teacher Day
The "Big Kids" Came to Larson to Read
Author Visit from Terry Border
Anything is Possible With Enough Tape
Learning to Play Chess in STEM
Hive/High School
Lots to see here...
Celebrating Senior Bowlers
Learning Skills in Family & Consumer Science
Filled to Capacity at the SVSU Representative Visit
Stingers of Steel at Competition
Builders in Geometry/Construction Making Greenhouses
Officer Heugel Meeting With J.A. Students
Academic Letter Award Winners
When Should My Child Stay Home Due to Illness?
- With a positive COVID test, 5 days from either the onset of symptoms, or if no symptoms, from the test date. Onset of symptoms or test date = day zero, and student may return on day 6 with a mask assuming symptoms are improving. This is the same as employees.
- For 24 hours after fever, diarrhea, or vomiting ends, without medication.
- Contagious diseases such as chickenpox, measles, strep, pinkeye, flu, etc. Ask your doctor or health care provider when they can return to school. Generally, the following apply: chickenpox (no school until all spots /lesions are dried and crusted), lice (no school until after the first treatment), strep throat or other strep infections (can return if they do not have a fever and have been on antibiotics for at least 12 hours).
Teachers Leading Learning for Teachers on February 9
Mr. Lipovsky presented on classroom management strategies
Mrs. Andera presented on the use of Thinking Maps
Mrs. Coughlin & Mrs. Linton presented on Backward Design
Board of Education Meeting
Monday, Apr 8, 2024, 05:30 PM
Hillside Elementary School, North 4th Street, Harrison, MI, USA
DISTRICT INFORMATION
Upcoming Calendar Events
March 16: Robotics Open House (1:00-3:00 pm, HS cafeteria)
March 25-29: No school (spring break)
April 11: Kindergarten Round Up (5:30-7:00 pm, Larson)
April 11-13: Barefoot in the Park - HS play (HS auditorium)
May 6: Seniors Honors (6:00 pm, HS gym)
May 16: Graduation (6:30 pm, stadium - weather permitting)
School Contact Information
- Early Childhood & Larson Elementary, 989.539.3259 (Principal Andrea Andera, aandera@harrisonschools.com, Assistant Principal Sandy Hargraves, shargraves@harrisonschools.com)
- Middle School, 989.539.7194 (Principal Jennifer Thrush, jthrush@harrisonschools.com, Assistant Principal Brad Carlstrom, bcarlstrom@harrisonschools.com)
- Hive, 989.539.7417 (Principal Stacey VanAntwerp, svanantwerp@harrisonschools.com)
- High School, 989.539.7417 (Principal Joe Ashcroft, jjashcroft@harrisonschools.com, Assistant Principal/Athletic Director Brad Carlstrom, bcarlstrom@harrisonschools.com)
District Contact Information
Superintendent, 989.539.7871 (Judy Walton, juwalton@harrisonschools.com)
Special Education (Stacey VanAntwerp, svanantwerp@harrisonschools.com)
Homeless Child/Youth Services (Andrea Andera, aandera@harrisonschools.com)
Bus Services, 989.539.7082 (Kelli Whitaker, kwhitaker@auxilioservices.com)
Bus/Vehicle Pick Up and Drop Off
Allowed waiting area for afternoon pick-up at Larson is on West Hornet Drive, highlighted in orange